Finding a Home at the NSF for Your
Chemical Biology Proposal
George L. Kenyon
April 30, 2009
Scripps Research Institute
A NSF “Experiment” at the ChemistryBiology Interface
“Experiment” - January 2008: Professor Wilfredo (Freddy) Colon joined the
NSF as a rotator program director with a 50:50 appointment between the
Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Molecular and Cellular
Biosciences (MCB).
Main responsibilities of this position are to:
• Facilitate and develop best practices for the
review of proposals at the chemistry-biology
interface, and keep proposals from “falling
through the cracks”.
• Facilitate the interactions between the MCB
and CHE divisions
• Interact with the community to help identify
the best program for their proposals.
Directorate for
Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Division of
Astronomical
Sciences
Division of
Chemistry
AST
CHE
Division of
Materials
Research
DMR
Division of
Mathematical
Sciences
DMS
Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA)
Division of
Physics
PHY
Directorate for
Biological Sciences (BIO)
Division of
Biological
Infrastructure
Division of
Environmental
Biology
DBI
DEB
Emerging
Frontiers
EF
Division of
Integrative
Organismal
Systems
Division of
Molecular
and Cellular
Biosciences
IOS
MCB
Structure of CHE and MCB
CHE
Analytical
and Surface
Chemistry
Inorganic,
Bioinorganic,
and
Organometallic
Chemistry
Organic and
Macromolecular
Chemistry
Physical
Chemistry
Integrated
Chemistry
Activities
MCB
Biomolecular
Systems
Cluster
Cellular
Systems
Cluster
Genes and
Genomes
Systems
Cluster
Most biochemistry proposals are submitted to the BMS in MCB cluster whereas most
chemical biology proposals are submitted to CHE.
Biochemistry and Chemical Biology at the NSF
Biochemistry - the study of the chemistry and chemical processes in living
organisms.
•Most biochemistry proposals are submitted to the Biomolecular Systems
Cluster in MCB and are reviewed in the Molecular Biochemistry or Metabolic
Biochemistry review panels supplemented with ad-hoc reviews.
•Some biochemistry proposals that are more chemistry-oriented are
submitted to CHE and are reviewed by different methods, depending on the
Program.
Chemical Biology - involves the application of the tools and methods of
chemistry to the study and manipulation of biological systems
•Most chemical biology proposals are submitted to a CHE program.
•Some chemical biology proposals are submitted to other divisions in the
BIO Directorate, usually MCB.
Biochemistry and Chemical Biology proposals are sometimes co-reviewed and
co-funded by CHE and MCB
Structure of CHE and MCB
CHE
Analytical
and Surface
Chemistry
Inorganic,
Bioinorganic,
and
Organometallic
Chemistry
Organic and
Macromolecular
Chemistry
Physical
Chemistry
MCB
Biomolecular
Systems
Cluster
Cellular
Systems
Cluster
Genes and
Genomes
Systems
Cluster
Integrated
Chemistry
Activities
Recent Activities and Changes at the NSF to
Address Proposals at the CHE-BIO Interface
• Wrote a commentary to inform the community about the present and future of
chemical biology at the NSF:
•Chemical Biology at the US National Science Foundation, Nature Chemical Biology 4,
511-514
• New CHE-MCB review panel was created to facilitate the review of proposals at
the che-bio interface, including chemical biology.
• Workshop on chemical biology is being planned for 2009 – to discuss leading
edge, future trends, proposal review mechanism, funding opportunities, and
education
• CHE is proposing to create a new program, Chemistry of Life Processes, that will
serve as a home to chemical biology proposals.
CHE Town Hall Meeting
When: March 23, 2009
Where: Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 3
What Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Main Agenda: Introduce Proposed New Programs of
the Chemistry Division
•Chemical Synthesis
•Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms
•Chemical Measurement and Imaging
•Theory, Models and Computational Methods
•Environmental Chemical Sciences
•Chemistry of Life Processes
•Chemical Catalysis
•Macromolecular / Supramolecular / Nanochemistry
Proposed Program: Chemistry of Life Processes
Draft of Program Description:
• The program supports research of novel chemistry in biological systems and the
advancement of basic chemical research and transformative technologies through
creative applications that address significant aspects of life processes.
• The program also encourages research projects that exploit biological systems to
advance fundamental and enabling aspects of chemistry.
• Proposals that are compatible with the program are those that advance the
knowledge and practice of chemistry.
• Proposals that focus on addressing a biological question and that do not primarily
use chemical approaches are more appropriate for the Division of Molecular and
Cellular Biosciences (MCB).
• Proposals that address biomedical problems are more appropriate for the NIH.
Program Contact: Wilfredo Colon, (703) 292-8171, wcolon@nsf.gov
E-mail questions, comments, or suggestions to chemplans@nsf.gov
Examples of Research Interest that would fit the
Chemistry of Life Processes Program
Research of interest to the program includes fundamental chemistry
centered projects at the interface with biology. Some examples include,
but are not limited to:
• synthetic methods for site-specific modifications of
biomacromolecules;
• the application of advanced spectroscopic techniques to study energy
transformations in biological systems;
• metal speciation, coordination and function;
• chemical (bottom-up) synthetic biology;
• chemical basis of ligand-biomacromolecule recognition;
• studies of enzyme and ribozyme catalysis that focus on the chemistry;
• the design and synthesis of riboswitches and small molecules that
modulate biological systems.
Finding a Home: Submit to CHE or MCB?
Advise #1: Understand the key differences between CHE and MCB
–MCB is mainly interested in the fundamental biological problem or question
being addressed (i.e. the impact on Biology)
–CHE is mainly interested in the novelty and significance of the chemical
approach (i.e. the impact on Chemistry)
–CHE and MCB do not support disease related proposals.
Advice #2: Determine the focus and impact of your proposal
–If the proposal is traditional biochemistry and the main focus is to understand
the relationship between structure and function - submit to MCB
–If the proposal focuses primarily on the chemical details or chemical
approaches (e.g. synthesis, imaging/sensor, metal coordination, spectroscopy) submit to CHE
–Submit the proposal to the program that would be impacted the most by the
research. Where is the greatest impact: the chemistry or the biology?
Advice #3: If in doubt about the best program for your proposal,
consult with program director
Advice #4: Address both review criteria: the intellectual merit and
broader impact
–Understand the meaning of “broader impact” and take it seriously.
Review Criteria
Criterion 1: intellectual merit? (The focus is one the science)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Advancement of knowledge and understanding?
How qualified is the investigator(s)?
Impact of prior work?
Exploration of creative, original or potentially transformative concepts?
(since Jan. 2008; revolutionizing entire disciplines; creating entirely new
fields; or disrupting accepted theories and perspectives)
How well conceived and organized?
Resources?
Criterion 2: broader impacts? (The focus is on the people)
•
•
•
•
•
Promotion of teaching, training, and learning?
Broadening participation?
Enhancement of infrastructure?
Dissemination?
Benefits to society?
The Project Description must describe, as an integral part of the
narrative, the broader impacts resulting from the proposed activities.
Summary
•
Most proposals at the chemistry-biology interface may be submitted to CHE or
MCB, depending on the focus of the proposal and the impact of the research.
•
The proposed Chemistry of Life Processes program will provide a common and
clear home for chemical biology proposals.
•
Communicate with Program Directors if there is any doubt about the most
appropriate program for your proposal.
•
If you want your proposal to be co-reviewed by another division/program, you
may identify a second program in Fastlane at the time of submission.
•
Take the broader impact criteria seriously.
•
If your proposal does not fit the program, the PDs will try to transfer it to the
appropriate program, and will do their best to obtain a competent and fair
review.